Comments on: Blog Struggles: When Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation Interferes With Your Blogging

By: Viva the Easter Broccoli Bunny! Managing your blog readers’ expectations - Day 2 of 5

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:12:05 +0000

[...] Blog Struggles: When Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation Interferes With Your Blogging [...]

By: Weekly Digest: Writing About Writing, Working on Books, Lots of Speaking Gigs, and Blog Struggles is a Success « Lorelle on WordPress

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:37:40 +0000

[...] Blog Struggles: When Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation Interferes With Your Blogging looks at the issues around the impact of poor writing habits and skills and whether or not they impact the success and reading of your blog. [...]

By: Weekly Digest: Back on the Farm, Improving Your Blog Series, WordPress Podcast Reporter, and More « Lorelle on WordPress

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:57:45 +0000

By: Protecting Cultural Heritage With Blogs « Lorelle on WordPress

Protecting Cultural Heritage With Blogs « Lorelle on WordPress — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:34:48 +0000

[...] Blog Struggles: When Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation Interferes With Your Blogging [...]

By: Yohay

Yohay — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 07:26:06 +0000

I’d rather not make spelling mistakes on purpose, just to ignite a conversation. I hate spelling mistakes. On the other hand, I don’t bother to spend too much time on grammar perfection.

By: pelf

pelf — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 02:33:01 +0000

The librarians in my university all know me by name because I am always “the one” telling them about spelling and grammar mistakes on notices that they put up.

I admit that I am a spelling and grammar nazi at times, but I just couldn’t bear to look at the same mistakes each time I visit the library, especially when they were seen in the library!

By: sbpoet

sbpoet — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:17:10 +0000

I probably lean a bit toward the perfectionist side on my blogs, but I would encourage readers to be tolerant. One of the pleasures of blogs is the opportunity to read folks who may not be precisely articulate in English, either because it’s not their first language, or they are education or learning disabled. But there are gems out there, misspelled and incorrect though they may be.

Re: editing — I usually make a note, or use the strike-out, if I’m making a substantial change to a post. But if the change is made for spelling, grammar, or clarity — I just sneak in and do it. I think the issue is honesty and transparency with your readers, so that should be the measure.

By: Lorelle VanFossen

Lorelle VanFossen — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:36:09 +0000

David LaFerney: It’s your blog. Edit at will. Strikeouts leave the text, which also sends a message that this was changed, and implies many things, which can be interpreted in many ways. This leaves things to chance interpretations, sending mixed signals. I constantly edit and fix comments on my blog, if the comment deserves it. If I leave it as it is, then it’s also a comment about my feelings about the comment: Stupid is as stupid does.

Jill: If people like what and how you say things, and that follows through with your blog, wonderful. The issue is whether or not the way a blogger writes really does a good job of representing themselves and their content online.

The art of writing is a talent and a skill, one that is constantly developed and honed. I’m always learning and studying, and learning more, about all aspects of writing. It gives me joy to find new ways of making my point with this tangle of words on the web. WEEEE!

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:22:51 +0000

Lorelle - congrats on the book. I look forward to reading and writing about it on my blog, called…Writes Like She Talks. LOL - it really is. And when people meet me, they say I really do write like I talk. As for how many readers I have, not as many as some people who do read the blog think I have. But I’m doing very nicely as a freelance writer and political blogger so…maybe I talk and write with fewer ellipses than most people??

I don’t really know! But thanks for your great blog - I’ve used it several times since moving to WordPress a couple of months ago. I hope you make a little money out of all the effort you’ve put in re: WordPress tips etc.

By: David LaFerney

David LaFerney — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 11:57:43 +0000

This brings up a question of blogging etiquette that I’ve been wondering about. Some bloggers strike through instead of deleting errors and edits, while some apparently don’t edit once an article is published. Personally, I would like to just discretely make edits and improve the post - as long as it isn’t misleading. Is this OK, or is it bad form?